Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $58,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Eugene for high school graduates
For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.
According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.
With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.
Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Eugene for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $58,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 280 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Logging equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $58,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 250 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $58,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Funtay // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 700 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 390 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $59,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.76
- Total employment: 380 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 130 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $59,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 670 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $60,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 270 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $60,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 780 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 520 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $60,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $61,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 220 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 220 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 340 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,310 people (8.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 530 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 270 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $64,850
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 560 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 1,060 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $70,890
- Median hourly wage: $34.08
- Total employment: 330 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $72,350
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $73,010
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $73,660
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 190 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 150 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $74,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $75,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $77,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 620 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 700 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Bigflick // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $80,430
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 210 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $84,390
- Median hourly wage: $40.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $84,440
- Median hourly wage: $40.60
- Total employment: 700 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $87,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.25
- Total employment: 190 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $90,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.53
- Total employment: 370 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $90,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.73
- Total employment: 380 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $125,470
- Median hourly wage: $60.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $126,570
- Median hourly wage: $60.85
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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